Bench



J. C. MATHIS June 7, 1932.

BENCH Fil'ed DBC. 16, 1930 31a/manto@ Aaus Patented June '7, 1932 JAMESC. MATHIS, OF ADA., OKLAHOMA BENCH Application filed December 16, 1930.Serial No. 502,788.

This invention relates to improvements in benches, and pertainsparticularly to a bench designed for outdoor use.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedconcrete bench formed in a number of sections so that it may be easilytransported to the place where it is to be set up for use and easily andquickly assembled into a firmly constructed article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concrete bench structurein sections, wherein a novel means is provided for locating the parts inthe proper positions relative to one another and for securing them insuch positions so that the resultant structure will be strong and iirmas though it were cast as a unit. Y

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this speciication, with the understanding,however,

that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with theshowing of the drawing I but may be changed or modified so long as suchchanges or modilications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures oi the invention as expressed in the appended claims. In thedrawing:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the bench embodying thepresent invention, this section being taken substantially upon the line1-1 of Figure 2 with parts appearing beyond the section line being shownbroken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken transversely of the bench structureupon the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the end elements of the benchstructure.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, itwill be seen that the bench embodying the present invention is molded infour sections, the back and seat sections 1 and 2 respectively and thetwo end sections,

each of which is indicated by the numeral 3.

The back section 1 is cast as a single long slab having the top cornersrounded as indicated at 4 and having embedded therein a series oftransversely extending reinforcing '1 bolts 5, each of which projectsbeyond the bottom edge of the back, as shown in Figure 2, and isthreaded as at 6 to receive securing nuts, when the seat is assembled. Asingle longitudinally extending rod 7 is embedded in the back, each endof this rod extending beyond an end of the seat back as shown in Figure4.

The seat 2 of the bench has cast therein a pair of longitudinallyextending rods 8 which reinforce the seat and which have their endsextended beyond the ends thereof, as shown in Figure 1, to serve as ameans for securing the elements of the bench in assembled relation.

Extending longitudinally of the under surface of the seat 2 is a rib 9,each end of which terminates in a down-turned portion 10. This rib 9 hasa reinforcing bar 11 extending therethrough, the ends of which turn down7J and pass out of the portions 10 through the outer faces thereof.

Each of the end elements 3 of the bench structure, while cast as a unit,is formed to provide an upper and lower section, which sections areindicated by the numerals 12 and 13 respectively. As shown, the lowersection 13 of each end element is of materially greater thickness thanthe upper section 12 but the outer faces of the sections are in the sameplane so that there is thus formed a flange or shelf 14 upon the innerface of the unit. The inner face of the lower section 1? of each endelement or unit is cut away to form the pocket 15 which, aty its top,opens through the flange 14 as shown in Figure 3. These pockets 15receive the portions 10 of the rib 9 of the seat when the bench isassembled and the ends of the seat rest upon the flanges 14, abuttingagainst the adjacent Vportion 12. Each of the portions 13 may be formedto provide a pair of supporting feet 16 or they may be formed straightacross at the bottomv as preferred. i

The top edge of each endjportion of the 10u bench is formed to providean arm 17, the rear end of which is cut away upon the inner side of theunit as indicated at 18.

In assembling the elements of the bench structure, the ends of the seat2 and the portions 10 of the rib 9 thereof are positioned against theend sections 3 so that the ends of the seat proper will rest upon theflange le and the portions 10 will extend into the pockets 15 in themanner already described.

The ends of the rods 8 and 11 pass through the apertures 19 which areformed in the end sections at t-he proper points and these rods thenhave placed upon the vends thereof, which extend beyond the outer facesof the end portions, the holding nuts 20. At the same time that the seat2 is placed in position between the end portions, the back 1 is arrangedin position with its lower edge resting upon the top of the seat at thebach edge thereof and with the bolts 5 extending downwardly throughapertures formed in the proper places through the seat. The rod 7extending longitudinally through the bach has its ends extended throughapertures in the end elements, as shown in' Figure l, and the end edgesof the back position in the recesses 18 formed at the rear ends of thearms.

After assembling the elements or units of the bench the ends of thebolts 5 and the rods T, S and 11 are provided with securing nuts which,when drawn up to position, draw the units into closely assembledrelation. In order to reinforce the structure further the openings orapertures through the end elements 3 may be provided with metal sleeves21, as shown in Figure 1, so that the nuts 2O will bear against the endsof these sleeves instead of bearing against the concrete material ofwhich the bench is made up.

In order to prevent water settling upon the 2, a number of apertures 22are formed therethrough as shown in Figure 2.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that a benchconstructed in accordance with the present invention may be easilytransported and set up in position, and it will alse be seen that, dueto the manner in which the units are interlocked, the set up bench willbe firm and sturdy.

Since the outer surfaces of the end units 3 and the front and baci;surfaces of the back unit 1 present relatively large smooth areas, thesesurfaces or areas may have advertisements placed thereon so that thebench will serve, in addition to a resting place, as a medium foradvertising.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A bench structure of molded material made up of individually castunits, comprising a pair of end units each formed to provide an upperand lower portion, a flange formed transversely of the inner face ofeach end unit at the point of joinder between the upper and lowerportions, a pocket formed in the inner face of the lower portion of eachunit and opening upwardly through the adjacent flange, a seat unitdisposed between the end units and resting at its ends upon the adjacentflanges, a reinforcing rib extending longitudinally of the under surfaceof the seat unit and having its ends located in said pockets, a backunit disposed between the end units and resting upon the seat unit, andsecuring elements connecting the units together.

2. A bench of the character described, comprising individually cast end,back and seat units, a supporting flange formed transversely of theinner face of each end unit for the ends of the seat unit, each of saidend units having` a pocket formed in the inner face thereof, areinforcing rib extending longitudinally of the seat unit and having itsends located in said pockets, an arm formed upon the top of each endunit and having a recess formed therein at the rear end and upon theinner side thereof, said back unit being mounted upon the seat unit andhaving its ends disposed in the recesses of the arms, and reinforcingrods extending longitudinally through the back unit, the seat unit andsaid rib and having their ends extended through and secured to the endunits.

3. A cement bench structure, comprising preformed end, back and seatunits, said end units each being divided into an upper and a lowerportion, the lower portion being of greater thickness than the upperportion and providing a transverse shoulder on one side of the unit, andfurther having a recess in the shoulder side thereof, the end unitsbeing positioned with the shoulders in opposed relation and -having theseat unit disposed therebetween and resting at its ends upon theshoulders, a reinforcing body formed upon the under face of the seatunit at each end and adapted to position in the recess of the adjacentend member, said back unit being mounted upon said seat unit and havingits ends located between the upper portions of the end units, andsecuring means passing through the upper portion of each of said endunits and engaging in the adjacent end of the back unit to maintain thelatter in posit-ion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES MATHIS.

